The further the Raptors get in the playoffs, the crazier their fans get.

Despite the blustery weather Wednesday night, thousands packed Maple Leaf Square outside the Air Canada Centre to watch Toronto take on the Brooklyn Nets in Game 5.

“It’s just so fun,” said Lawrence Hopkins, who’s watched several of the playoff games in the square. He brought along a friend this time — a life-size Vince Carter cutout clad in red plastic poncho for protection from the drizzling rain.

Thousands have showed up to watch each game of the series on the square’s giant screen. Game 4 on Sunday drew the largest crowd yet, about 4,500. People are talking about the team, too. Social media activity about the Raptors is up 350 per cent compared to the regular season, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment said in a release. The team has picked up 160 per cent more likes on Facebook and 80 per cent more Twitter followers.

“The support for the Raptors this season in Toronto, and across Canada, has highlighted the fact that this is one of the most passionate markets in the NBA, and in my mind this is just the first step in what we can accomplish,” MLSE President and CEO Tim Leiweke said in a statement.

With each playoff game, the crowd in the square has gotten louder — and more creative in showing support. Wednesday night’s vocal audience was filled with jerseys, face paint and handmade signs. But several fans, such as Rob Linley, took their Raptors gear a step further. Linley was wearing a foam Raptors head he’s had sitting in his closet since he was a kid.

“(The square) is the poor man’s way to enjoy the game,” Linley said with a laugh.

Other fans have made their own Raptors duds. Yanal Dhailieh created a T-shirt that says “Toronto vs. Everybody.”

“I feel like it captures the way the city feels,” Dhailieh said. “It feels like it’s the Raptors against the world right now.”

If it’s Toronto against the world, at least there’s a strong fan base behind the team — one that seems to be gaining more famous faces by the day. Rapper 50 Cent was spotted courtside Wednesday night wearing a “We The North” hat, while Toronto FC stars Jermain Defoe, Michael Bradley and Julio Cesar all appeared ahead of the game, as did former Raptor fan favourite Jerome (Junk Yard Dog) Williams.

“It’s unbelievable,” Defoe said of the crowd. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

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